M
MattRose
Guest
Ok I'll try a different tack as this has gotten nowhere.
How the Catholic Church Suppressed Science in the 1600's
Let's say you're a scientist who is working for the Catholic church in 1641. Your research (where you have properly employed the scientific method) led you to a exciting new idea or theory. You're very confident that peer review will confirm what you've discovered. Now you are beside yourself with excitement and want to share your results and new theory with the church and the world.
Here's the question: Do you run up to the chief monk, bishop overlord, or primate in training (not sure of the church hierarchy here) and show him what you have discovered? Being a cautious chap maybe you instead perform a mental check to see if your theory might be at odds with current church doctrine? Now why would you pause here? Here's why. If your theory might be considered heresy, you could be in for a very bad day.
Most people would agree that if you have to pause to consider the ramifications of your results due to a possible conflict with church doctrine, then you are being stifled, or suppressed, or coerced etc. This no longer happens in the western world (at least not with the church), but this was the reality of what the christian scientists in that time had to contend with.
Ok, let's return to 1641. Unfortunately for you (and science), you've determined that your theory indeed goes against church teachings. Now you have a possible life or death decision to make. Do you stick to your convictions and face the possible penalties the church could impose, or do you recant and skip on to the next project. Of course, realistically, any project you choose will always have the sword of damcles hanging over it. Your are painfully aware that certain discoveries or ideas might land you in hot fire... err water. Perhaps you are reminded of a colleague named Galileo (formerly of no fixed address) and want to avoid a similiar fate.
We will never know if the theory of evolution or other anti-biblical ideas were floating around 100's of years before Darwin. This is probably due to scientists being smarter than the average bear. A true scientist may be devoted to science, but he is even more devoted to his own hide. Why risk jail or torture when there are lots of non contentious discoveries to be made?
Alrighty, poke holes in my theory.
How the Catholic Church Suppressed Science in the 1600's
Let's say you're a scientist who is working for the Catholic church in 1641. Your research (where you have properly employed the scientific method) led you to a exciting new idea or theory. You're very confident that peer review will confirm what you've discovered. Now you are beside yourself with excitement and want to share your results and new theory with the church and the world.
Here's the question: Do you run up to the chief monk, bishop overlord, or primate in training (not sure of the church hierarchy here) and show him what you have discovered? Being a cautious chap maybe you instead perform a mental check to see if your theory might be at odds with current church doctrine? Now why would you pause here? Here's why. If your theory might be considered heresy, you could be in for a very bad day.
Most people would agree that if you have to pause to consider the ramifications of your results due to a possible conflict with church doctrine, then you are being stifled, or suppressed, or coerced etc. This no longer happens in the western world (at least not with the church), but this was the reality of what the christian scientists in that time had to contend with.
Ok, let's return to 1641. Unfortunately for you (and science), you've determined that your theory indeed goes against church teachings. Now you have a possible life or death decision to make. Do you stick to your convictions and face the possible penalties the church could impose, or do you recant and skip on to the next project. Of course, realistically, any project you choose will always have the sword of damcles hanging over it. Your are painfully aware that certain discoveries or ideas might land you in hot fire... err water. Perhaps you are reminded of a colleague named Galileo (formerly of no fixed address) and want to avoid a similiar fate.
We will never know if the theory of evolution or other anti-biblical ideas were floating around 100's of years before Darwin. This is probably due to scientists being smarter than the average bear. A true scientist may be devoted to science, but he is even more devoted to his own hide. Why risk jail or torture when there are lots of non contentious discoveries to be made?
Alrighty, poke holes in my theory.
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